Community feedback to shape Barkly Street parking improvements
Ararat Rural City Council is finalising an updated parking plan for Barkly Street in the Ararat CBD following strong community feedback to a consultation that closed on 30 April.
Council had presented changes that would provide a total of 206 parking spaces in Barkly Street, including 11 accessible bays, 8 loading bays, 2 motorcycle bays, 2 bays for vehicles over six metres in length, and 1 taxi bay, building on the existing free parking arrangements in the CBD.
Feedback received through Council’s online Social Map and written submissions highlighted strong support for more accessible parking close to key destinations, safer spaces for parents and carers loading children, and practical loading arrangements for local businesses and delivery drivers.
Many contributors called for additional disability parking near medical and health services, the Astor Cinema, optometry practices, and the top end of Barkly Street, noting that distance and gradients can make access difficult for people with mobility challenges.
Community members also raised ideas for wider and better‑designed bays so people can safely get children in and out of car seats, improved consideration of wheelchair hoists and ramps in accessible bays, and short‑stay parking near ATMs, chemists, and the post office to support quick visits.
Other suggestions included more all‑day staff parking away from the prime shopping strip, improved pedestrian crossings with flashing lights, and small intersection and line‑marking changes to improve safety and traffic flow around schools and busy corners.
Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison, said the consultation had provided clear, practical insights into how people use Barkly Street in their daily lives. “People have been very clear that parking is not an abstract issue. It’s about how easily they can get to the chemist, the post office, a medical appointment, or a favourite local business,” Dr Harrison said. “Our job now is take that feedback and turn it into the new strategy that will keep traffic moving in the heart of Ararat.”
Council officers will now review all submissions in detail and refine the Barkly Street parking plan before presenting a final recommendation to Council for consideration, with further updates to be provided to the community once decisions are made.
